Related DDx ⬇
Etiology ⬆
Physiologic
- Pregnancy
- Postpartum
- Suckling
- Nipple stimulation
- Macroprolactinemia (relatively inactive "big prolactin")
- Idiopathic
- Exercise
- Sleep (REM phase)
- Stress (trauma, surgery)
Drugs (selected)
- Psychotropics
- Cimetidine
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Oral contraceptives
- Marijuana
Pathologic
- Prolactinoma
- Hypothyroidism
- Cirrhosis
- Renal failure
- Acromegaly (pituitary tumor may cosecrete prolactin & growth hormone)
- Hypothalamic disease
- Other growth near pituitary
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Chronic chest wall stimulation (nipple piercing, mastectomy, thoracotomy, herpes zoster, breast augmentation)
- Multiple sclerosis
- Optic neuritis
- Spinal cord lesions